The Six Premier League Clubs Most Likely To Woo Pep Guardiola As Manager

According to reports, Josep Guardiola will leave the Nou Camp at the end of the season. It is believed the he will likely take a year-long break from football before returning to manage at another club. Guardiola will be in high demand in England if he decides to let his Barcelona contract expire. In the past, Pep has spoken of his wish to someday manage in the Premier League. Surely, Chelsea would be the favorites to land the decorated manager, but Guardiola’s possible destinations in England could be elsewhere.

The most likely options include:

Chelsea

Although the Blues have been fantastic since Roberto Di Matteo took charge, owner Roman Abramovich may want a big name with a proven track record. Guardiola has won the Champions League on two occasions in his four-year term with Barcelona. Pep would have the chance to prove his worth as a manager by winning silverware away from Catalonia. Of course, he would also have the benefit of Abramovich’s cash to spend in the transfer market. After Barcelona were eliminated by Chelsea in a Champions League semi-final on Tuesday night, Guardiola may follow the old saying: If you can’t beat them, join them.

However, would Guardiola want to work under such an impatient owner? Abramovich recently tossed away Andre Villas-Boas after less than a full campaign of duty. If Guardiola is overwhelmed with the pressure at Barcelona, perhaps his first job in England should be at a more stable club.

Arsenal

Arsene Wenger’s contract at Arsenal will expire at the end of 2013-2014 campaign. Rumors say that Wenger and his family would like to relocate back to France. Guardiola could be the perfect man to replace Arsenal’s legendary manager. The Gunners’ style of football has often been compared to Barcelona’s tiki-taka. If Arsenal is unable to win a trophy in the next two seasons, Guardiola may want to play the role of savior and lead the London club to a title. The Gunners are a good side with room to improve.

One factor that may count against Arsenal in the mind of Guardiola is the possible budget restrictions at the Emirates Stadium. It is a mystery as to whether the Arsenal board have constrained Arsene Wenger, or if Wenger has placed these financial restraints on himself, or if it is a collaborative effort from the manager and the shareholders. Also, there is the battle of the billionaires. Stan Kroenke, Arsenal’s current majority shareholder, has so far kept Alisher Usmanov off of the board, but a messy turn of events could ensue if the richest man in Russia (Usmanov) acquires a few more shares. Guardiola may not want to involve himself in a club with such boardroom intrigue.

Tottenham Hotspur

If Harry Redknapp departs White Hart Lane to take control of England, Guardiola could become a prime candidate to lead the white half of North London. Spurs has been stuttering recently, and Redknapp’s name has been linked with the England position more than a few times. Tottenham has never won the Premier League title and have only once qualified for the Champions League. Guardiola could turn Tottenham into an elite European club and become a Spurs legend.

On the other hand, managing Tottenham may be the most difficult of the jobs listed in this article. If Spurs do not qualify for next season’s Champions League, Gareth Bale and Luka Modric could need convincing to stay at White Hart Lane. Without the allure of the Champions League, Spurs may have trouble signing top quality footballers because they do not have the same history as a club like Liverpool.

Liverpool

Kenny Dalglish is not the man to lead Liverpool into the future. At only 41-years old, Guardiola could be the manager who restores glory to Anfield. Equipped with considerable resources, John Henry and the Fenway group could appoint Guardiola to rebuild Liverpool into a club that can once again fight for the English championship. If Pep wants a challenge to prove that his can succeed in the Premier League, Liverpool can provide such as task.

The Reds can best be described as a work-in-progress. While their cup adventures have been joyous, their league season has been anything but. Currently sitting at eighth in the table, Liverpool will need a serious renovation to make up for some terrible transfer decisions. Maybe Guardiola does not want to take on such a difficult assignment.

Manchester United

Imagine: Sir Alex retires at the end of next season, and Pep, fresh off his one-year sojourn away from football, picks up right where the greatest manager in English football history left off. As Ferguson’s successor, Guardiola would need to be stellar. His responsibility would be to keep United at the top of the pile, even while plethora of other clubs bite at his heels.

The expectations at Old Trafford may keep Pep away from United. Barcelona and Manchester United are similar clubs in that both count on capturing league titles year after year and competing for European cups.

Manchester City

If City fail to win the league after leading the table for so many weeks, Roberto Mancini may be thrust into the guillotine (figuratively, of course). Instead of replacing Sir Alex, Guardiola would have the opportunity to overtake him from across town. The Abu Dhabi group will surely consider Guardiola’s prior triumphs over United if they begin a search for a new manager. In addition, plenty of cash will be at Guardiola’s fingertips for the construction of a team in his vision.

If City’s owners are willing to dispatch of Mancini for finishing second, then they would surely have grand expectations for Guardiola. Pressure is a very real aspect of football, and maybe Guardiola will want to look elsewhere. In addition, several of City’s employees, such as Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli, have shown rebellious tendencies.

As Guardiola explores options for his post-Barcelona managerial career, he will find that all of his potential suitors have their positives and negatives.

Critics say that Guardiola’s success with Barcelona is down to great players and a fantastic youth academy. Even so, one cannot count the number of trophies in his cabinet with two hands. If Pep wants a chance to prove his worth as a manager, he’ll come to the Premier League, where several clubs will be bidding for his services. Guardiola’s decision on which club fits his interests best may shape the Premier League for years to come.

I would really much like to see Pep managing Liverpool. The sure thing is Kenny is not doing very well right now, and that the games that they only play good at is in the league cups. Kenny could step back do his own job as a assistant manager and let Pep handle the job. Pep has brought brilliant players to his squad, Liverpool has enough money to supply it lately so why not?

I Don’t want him at utd. It’s only a matter of time before people find out he’s not as good as everyone thinks. He inherited a world class team who where coming into their prime and didn’t need to do much with them for them to be winners. The gaffer could have managed that team and got similar results that’s how hood they where.

His record in the transfer market isn’t exactly great either from what I’ve seen. I’d take mourhino over him all day long as he’s proven he can win in different leagues, especially the EPL which is a lot harder to win than la liga.

Couldn’t agree more with that! If Pep wants to prove himself as a genuinely great manager and he comes here then he will commit a serious foul by going to Chelsea. What’s the point of going from money to money? Plus there’s the fact that the owner will get bored after 5 minutes and make Pep look very stupid by sacking him!

If he genuinely wants to prove himself he would be best suited to Arsenal or Liverpool. Liverpool in particular would cement his reputation as a great if he could turn them around… saying that though, I wouldn’t want him. Just because he’s managed a team in Spain that has a cosy love-in with Real Madrid when it comes to the majority of money in their league, it doesn’t mean for one second he’d be a success in the Premier League because it’s a different world altogether to what he’s used to.

Why would he go to City? Just for money. It wouldnt prove anything if he won with them.

Why would Chelsea hire him, they just fired a man they paid a huge sum for to change their style and change the way they play. Only for the players to revolt and the owner to allow it to happen. Any manager that goes to play for Roman is short-sighted. Chelsea will hold onto their aging players and this is a huge mistake

At least with United, they have a style of play and a way in which the club is run. But SAF isnt leaving. He will want to beat down MCFC like he has with LFC, Arsenal, and Chelsea in the past.He is still turning over his squad. Another transfer window and his new team will be complete.

Spurs and Liverpool are also ridiculous. One is closer to a 10th place finish than a title. Purchased average players on huge contracts that would all be shipped out and huge losses would be incurred. Spurs? C’mon their best striker plays half a season and is owned by a rival. Both LFC and THFC lack a stadium that can support the kind of players it will take to challenge for a title.

Arsenal? Well, the board make Wenger make money EVERY transfer window in order to buy players and pay him to maintain 4th place. Pep wont do that.

Here is a novel approach, perhaps he wont go to England at all. Maybe he will go to Italy or Germany. Or perhaps PSG when Carlo is ousted in 18 months.

He’s already made his mind up. He sees the way Chelsea played the other night and thinks ‘I’ll have some of that’, Pulis moves upstairs Pep takes charge at the Britannia. That way he can just build on teh squad and system similar to how he did at Barcalona.

He’ll easily outdo Pulis, we’ll be down to 10% possession, 23% completed passes, 3 shots on target, 5 shots off, 3 goals per game. (Funnily enough on a shots on target per goals scored ratio Stoke have the highest percentage in the league!)

I can’t believe people are saying he isn’t that good a coach for winning 2 Champions League finals. It is pretty hard to keep big names happy, unify them, and get them to play unselfishly. AVB inherited a fantastic group of players. How did that turn out?

Arsenal is the natural place to go. He has been to arsenal many times before officially becoming manager of barca and has a great relationship with wenger.
One thing I get from Pep is that he wont go to a club simply for a paycheck but for football reasons/for a challenge. He has seen how chelsea treats their manager and I doubt he will go there. Arsenal makes sense but so does man u after fergie leaves (assuming mourinho doesnt end up there).